Earlier this year, the Government of British Columbia designated April as BC Wine Month…and it’s about time too!
BC Wine Month – A Brief Background
The BC wine industry has a fascinating history dating back almost a century. It reportedly all began with a man named Charles Pandosy, who was the first European to settle in the Okanagan Valley. He noted that the land was fertile and set about planting the first vines.
Following prohibition, the Okanagan experienced a boom in new vineyards and in recent decades British Columbia has really been making a name for itself on the world stage. Now with more than 200 vineyards, the Okanagan attracts in excess of 1.9 million visitors each year with Kelowna as the BC tipple industry’s epicenter.
As staunch advocates of the BC Wine Month movement, we decided to highlight a few notable wineries worth exploring during a trip to Inner BC:
Blasted Church
The story behind Blasted Church’s name is as quirky as it’s branding. With labels such as ‘Godspeed’ and ‘Bible Thumper’, Blasted Church is definitely one that stands out!
La Stella
Located close by beautiful Lake Osoyoos, La Stella Winery first opened in 2007. Noted as being neither modern nor traditional, La stella combines old processes with new to deliver their own unique tastes.
Painted Rock
Planted in 2005, Painted Rock stands out for its sustainability credentials. Principally referred to as the “three E’s”: Environmental Impact, Economic Development and Social Equity are high on their agenda, which matches the sentiment in Whistler too!
Meyer Vineyards
Interestingly, Meyer Family Vineyards is run over three sites in the Okanagan Valley: Naramata, Penticton and Okanagan Falls. Their reasoning? “Each wine reflects the single vineyard of it’s origin, the soil, the climate, the slope…to produce the finest quality wines.”
Burrowing Owl
Perfect for the romantic at heart, Burrowing Owl stands proud atop a hill in Oliver, partway between Osoyoos Lake and Skaha Lake in the southern Okanagan Valley. The views are incredible and so are the wines.
Celebrate with us
Despite there already being plenty to keep you occupied in Whistler this spring, Nita Lake Lodge is hosting a Sip & Savour winemaker dinner series in line with BC Wine Month. Festivities commence on April 17th when The Lodge partners with Blasted Church to deliver a sumptuous four-course meal with perfectly considered wine pairings. To view the menu, please click here. Other dinners in the series are:
May 22nd – La Stella
June 12th – Painted Rock
July 24th – Meyer Vineyards
August 7th – Burrowing Owl
September 11th – Fontanafredda, Italy (PIEDMONT)
Raise a glass and make your reservation direct with the hotel on 604-966-5700 to secure your seat.
Sources:
Tourism Kelowna 2016 Economic Impact of Tourism in Kelowna and the Greater Kelowna Area.
Distinctly Kelowna Wine Tours: A Brief History of the Okanagan Wine Industry
Narcity.com: 12 Incredible Wineries in the Okanagan You Need to Visit This Fall